HGV Medicals – What I Need To Know?

Considering a career as a long haul driver? It’s a hard job with great pay and benefits, but once you reach a certain age you must prove to the DVLA your fitness is good enough to do it. HGV medicals help you to do this. Here’s everything you need to know about them to get on the road.

What is an HGV Medical?

Let’s answer your questions about HGV medicals all in one convenient place. Starting with the basics, an HGV medical is approval from a medical professional that you have enough fitness to drive an HGV. This approval takes the form of a medical appointment, similar to attending the doctors. The assessor will ask you questions about your health, ranging from your eyesight to your heart. They will record your notes on the D4 Form, which you then send to the DVLA. A medical assessor is an unbiased third party. If you fail based on your health, they are not responsible.

Who Needs an HGV Medical?

You will need to attend an HGV medical assessment if you are over the age of 45 and you want to apply for your HGV provisional license. You will need the same assessment for every five years over 45 years old, if you are a truck or HGV driver by trade. Your employer might pay for this but you can take an individual assessment if you choose to. Seeing an individual assessor may be faster, especially with Drive2Medicals, where we offer fast-track appointments.

Once you turn 65, you will need to attend a medical assessment for your HGV license every year. This is because older drivers are at higher risk of things like heart attacks and sight problems. These can impair you enough that driving is impossible. Only long goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, and passenger vehicles like buses and coaches require and HGV medically approved driver.

Where Can I Get One?

You can get your HGV medical in England and Wales through the Drive2Medicals site. Here, you can book an appointment for a time and date that suits you.

How Often Do You Need One?

You will need an HGV medical if you are over 45. You will have to repeat it every 5 years then every year when you reach 65. You can read more about the skills and qualifications of HGV drivers on the UK gov site.

What Happens During a Medical Assessment for Your HGV License?

When you come to attend your medical assessment for Form D4, we will do our best to make you comfortable. We understand it is a stressful situation, so we take your blood pressure every five minutes to let you calm down. Our doctors have performed 2000+ assessments just like yours, so you will be in good hands.

We will talk to you about your health and make notes on anything you say. We will look at your medication and record your start dates. We may listen to your heart and ask you about your family’s medical history. We will also want to listen to your heart.

Once we finish, you are free to go. The appointment won’t take longer than an hour and you can get back to your day. It’s fast, friendly, and easy when you choose your HGV medical with Drive2Medicals. All you have to do is show up.